A graduate of the Faculty of Economics and Management (FASEG) of the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin, Serges Alain Folly aka Alino, in his thirties, is now a young business owner. After a stint in the education sector of his country teaching in secondary schools, he has been working in the catering sector for more than five years now with his Café-bar called “L’Unique, Chez Alino” in the vicinity of the University of Abomey-Calavi. The entrepreneurial drive of Guineans in Benin sparked his shift into this sector. In this testimony, Alain Folly discusses with Dialogue Migration the trigger that made him the boss he has become.

“When I was a student at the University of Abomey-Calavi, I used to go across the campus to eat.  There  was  a “Diallo” (editor’s note: cafeteria run by Guineans and by extension, name given to the waiters who work there in  Benin) where students went for dinner. If you look closely, in Cotonou, there are many singles. So, when you end your  day and you are tired, you try to eat quickly to appease your hunger. Going to the coffee shops is then the best solution because it is fast and less expensive.While going to the cafeteria regularly, I saw the crowd that was there. From morning to night, seven days a week, without interruption. After my studies and for lack of employment, I embarked on a vacation (editor’s note: lectures in public and private institutions) as a teacher. I taught Mathematics in public schools and accounting in private schools. Having studied Management at university after obtaining a high school degree (Bac G), my ambition was to work for myself.  After a few years, I saved up to get into the cafeteria business. Today, I no longer teach because my dream came true. I told myself that I have to devote myself solely to the management of my business…”

A source of inspiration for young Beninese entrepreneurs

“With the rush into cafeterias run by the “Diallo”, Beninese began to realise that Guineans make a good turnover. Despite their modest living conditions, we see that these are people who make achievements in their country and live there with a certain comfort. 

Through their activities, they participate in the sale of several products  such as pasta, eggs, sardines, milk, sugar, frozen products, beverages, etc. An opportunity for them also to buy wholesale and resell to be able to earn a little more, and therefore increase their turnover. 

Their organisation and solidarity enable them to be actors throughout the value chain of products, from import to distribution and service to the end consumer.  This is something we do not achieve even if we, Beninese, especially the community to which I belong (Adja – Ethnic group of south-west Benin, in the department  of Couffo with a strong presence in Cotonou and in economic sectors), try to  duplicate this model, we  have not been able to acquire the solidarity they have. 

As a result, our customers notice a difference in the quantity of dishes we serve. But in terms of quality, especially the taste, we make a difference. It must also be said that we have modernised cafeterias with attractive constructions and decorations. This motivated the “Diallo” to do the same.  Today in Cotonou, all the cafeterias are well built and embellished, giving a better look to the places day and night, whereas before, it was made of precarious materials…”

Job creation and business relations between communities

”After a market study, I settled on operating an evening service, at the end of the day, to allow people to be able to stop by on their way to Calavi, the dormitory city of Cotonou. 

Today, we are trying to create jobs with the cafeteria. Even if we cannot say that this allows those we employ to live decently, there are students,  craftsmen at the end of training and others who come to work from time to  time, and who manage to make ends meet, pay the training fees for their diploma or buy equipment to open their workshops… We have one team for the day and another for the evening. We live in perfect harmony with the Guinean community in our sector, with whom we exchange from time to time on organising our sector and pricing our rations and products, even if sometimes the market price self-regulates us. “